RANK #300 – JIM YORK (#40) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1970-1971)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 362.04
50th Royals Player in Franchise History
York was selected in the 16th round of the free-agent draft in 1969. He made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals on September 21, 1970, becoming the first franchise player originally signed by the Royals in their first draft to actually play. By 1971, he was a major part of the bullpen, appearing in 53 games and posting a 2.89 ERA. On July 24, 1971, he replaced the starting pitcher in the second inning and went on to pitch eight scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts. He played for two seasons with 109 strikeouts in just over 100 innings pitched. He was eventually traded, along with Lance Clemons, to the Houston Astros for first baseman John Mayberry.
RANK #299 – LYNN JONES (#35) – Utility Outfield (1984-1986)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 365.48
208th Royals Player in Franchise History
Lynn Jones signed as a free agent to the Kansas City Royals in 1983 after playing for the Detroit Tigers. Jones only played a limited number of games in 1984 due to injury, but hit a very respectable .301 batting average. In 1985, Jones made 110 appearances, primarily as defensive relief throughout the outfield. His best game came in a 9-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on May 8, 1985 when, starting in right field, Jones wend 3-4 with a double and four RBIs. Lynn made postseason appearances in both 1984 and 1985 for the Royals. In Game 4 of the 1985 World Series, Jones had a double, as a pinch hitter, batting for pitcher Joe Beckwith. In 1986, Jones only had 47 at bats in 67 appearances. He was released at the end of the 1986 season having hit a .228 batting average in 224 appearances for the Kansas City Royals.
RANK #298 – MARK HUISMANN (#38) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1983-1986)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 373.44
198th Royals Player in Franchise History
Mark Huismann was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Kansas City Royals in 1980. He made his major league debut for the Royals on August 16, 1983. For his first two season, he bounced back and forth from Kansas City and AAA Omaha. Huismann pitched in relief in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers in 1984. By 1985, he spent the vast majority of the season at AAA Omaha and was only called up in September for nine appearances. He did, however, win league Pitcher-of-the-Year honors while at Omaha. He was traded early in the 1986 season to the Seattle Mariners for a minor league outfielder. He would finish his Royals career with a 6-5 record and a 4.19 ERA in 70 appearances.
RANK #297 – CORY BAILEY (#58) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2001-2002)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 375.35
504th Royals Player in Franchise History
Cory Bailey signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2001 after being a part of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Bailey had played in the major leagues during six seasons between 1993 and 1998, but was demoted to AAA minors for two years before having a second chance to play in the majors. Bailey made the most of his second opportunity, appearing in 53 games in 2001 and pitching a 3.48 ERA in 67 ⅓ innings. Bailey had 13 holds for the Royals in his first season and struck out 61. His best game came on August 5, 2001 when he struck out three in one inning of relief in a 10-5 win over the Minnesota Twins. Bailey split time with AAA Omaha in 2002 with a 4.11 ERA and 3-4 record as a relief pitcher. Bailey was granted free agency at the end of the season and he went on to pitch in Japan.
RANK #296 – FELIPE PAULINO (#59) – Starting Pitcher (2011-2012)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 377.78
737th Royals Player in Franchise History
The Kansas City Royals purchased the contract of Felipe Paulino from the Colorado Rockies in May of 2011. Paulino made 20 starts in 21 appearances in 2011 posting a 4.11 ERA and a 4-6 record in 124 2/3 innings. Despite only being with the Royals for part of the season, he was second on the team in strikeouts with 119. His best game came on September 10, 2011 when he struck out 11 in seven innings to earn the 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners. He got off to a hot start in 2012 with seven starts and a 1.67 ERA. But an elbow strain placed him on the disabled list. He went through Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the 2012 and all of the 2013 season. Paulino was released after the 2013 season and was signed by Chicago White Sox. Paulino was 7-7 with the Royals and had a 3.63 ERA in 28 appearances.
RANK #295 – MARK DAVIS (#48) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1990-1992)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 379.29
281st Royals Player in Franchise History
Mark Davis signed as a free agent in 1990 after playing for the San Diego Padres. In 1989, while in San Diego, Mark Davis won the Cy Young Award for the National League. He signed with the Royals for $10,000,000, one of the highest in the major leagues. With his arrival, the Royals became the first team in history to have both of the previous year’s Cy Young Award winners on the same team (Bret Saberhagen being the American League winner). For the first two weeks of 1990, Davis was the closer for the Royals. By the end of the month, Davis developed major control problems and his closer position was handed over to Jeff Montgomery. He struggled over the next two seasons in the bullpen. At the end of 1991, the Royals gave him opportunities as a starter with some success. He posted a 2.22 ERA in five starts in 1991 with a 3-1 record. However, he began the 1992 season in the rotation and went 0-2 with a 9.60 ERA in four starts. He was sent back to the bullpen with limited success. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves for former Royals player Juan Berenguer in July. He ended his Royals career with a overall 5.31 ERA and a record of 9-13. Many consider his signing to be one of the worst deals in major league history.
RANK #294 – BRIAN ANDERSON (#19) – Starting Pitcher (2003-2005)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 383.68
558th Royals Player in Franchise History
Brian Anderson was traded to the Kansas City Royals by the Cleveland Indians for three minor league players and cash. He made his first start for the Royals on August 26, 2003 against the Texas Rangers and earn the 9-2 victory. He sparked the Royals by going 5-1 in seven starts with a 3.99 ERA. Anderson was picked to be the opening day starter for the Royals in 2004. In that game, he went five innings, gave up five runs, and did not get the decision in a 9-7 victory over the White Sox. In this, his first full season, he only went 6-12 with a lofty ERA of 5.64. On May 8, 2005, Anderson tore his elbow ligament, necessitating Tommy John surgery. He never recovered and his major league career ended. He went 12-15 over 246 1/3 innings with a 5.44 ERA with the Royals.
RANK #293 – RICKY BOTTALICO (#52) – Closing Pitcher (2000)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 385.21
482nd Royals Player in Franchise History
Ricky Bottalico signed as a free agent to the Kansas City Royals in 2000 after playing with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bottalico struggled early in the season, having 7.50 ERA by the first of June. He finished the season with a 4.63 ERA and 16 saves in 62 appearances. His best game came in long relief in a 9-4 win over the Anaheim Angels, pitching three scoreless innings with three strikeouts and the three-inning save. At the end of the season, Bottalico resigned with the Philadelphia Phillies.
RANK #292 – BOBBY FLOYD (#15) – Utility Infield (1970-1974)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 390.27
47th Royals Player in Franchise History
Bobby Floyd was traded to the Kansas City Royals from the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Moe Drabowsky in 1970. Floyd bounced back and forth from Kansas City to AAA Omaha throughout his career. In 1972, Floyd was on the opening day roster at shortstop due to an injury to starter Freddie Patek. His best game was just after arriving in Kansas City on September 21, 1970. In the second game of a doubleheader, Floyd went 2-4 with a double and three RBIs as the Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 8-2. Floyd’s last season in the major league was in 1974, when he appeared in only 10 games. He had a career .227 batting average in 167 games played with the Royals, primarily as a backup at second base and third base.
RANK #291 – MAC SUZUKI (#17) – Starting Pitcher (1999-2001, 2002)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 390.55
466th Royals Player in Franchise History
Makoto “Mac” Suzuki was the first Japanese player in Royals history. He was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets midway through the 1999 season. That year, Suzuki split as a starter and middle reliever. In 2000, Suzuki was added to the starting rotation, recording a 8-10 record with a 4.34 ERA in 29 starts. His best performance came on August 19, 2000 when he pitched a complete game shutout of the Baltimore Orioles. In late June of 2001, Suzuki was traded, along with Sal Fasano, to the Colorado Rockies for Brent Mayne. He would play with three different teams that season. He was re-signed by the Royals in 2002, but only pitched seven games before being demoted to AAA Omaha. His 2002 season would be the last in the major leagues. Suzuki pitched a total of 333 2/3 innings in his Royals career.
RANK #290 – TERRY PENDLETON (#6) – Designated Hitter (1998)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 395.38
435th Royals Player in Franchise History
Former National League MVP Terry Pendleton was signed by the Royals as a free agent after playing for the Cincinnati Reds. He was brought to Kansas City as an experienced hitter to help mentor the young hitting roster of Kansas City. Pendleton was the designated hitter on opening day for the Kansas City Royals in 1998. He played in 40 games as the DH and a small amount of time at third base. He hit .257 for the Royals with three home runs for the season. His best game came on August 20, 1998 in an 8-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Pendleton hit 2-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Pendleton retired from major league baseball at the conclusion of the season.
RANK #289 – BRAD WELLMAN (#3) – Utility Infield (1988-1989)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 396.61
255th Royals Player in Franchise History
Brad Wellman signed as a free agent in 1987 after playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He primarily played second base and shortstop in his two years with the Royals with a .246 batting average in 174 games played. On September 11, 1988, Wellman hit the 51st-ever franchise inside-the-park home run off of the Oakland Athletics. In 1989, he was the primary backup for the aging Frank White and appeared in 62 games at second base. Wellman ended his major league career at the end of the 1989 season.
RANK #288 – BUTCH DAVIS (#33) – Left Field (1983-1984)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 396.90
199th Royals Player in Franchise History
Butch Davis was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1980. He made his major league debut for the Royals on August 23, 1983. In only 33 games played in 1983, Butch Davis tied with three others Royals players as the team leader in triples with six. He had an amazing first season, batting .344 with two home runs and 18 RBIs. He became the Royals’ opening day starter in left field in 1984, but his success was short lived. He only hit .147 and was demoted to AAA Omaha by mid-July. He continued to stay in the minor leagues for the next two years until he was finally released in 1986 and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
RANK #287 – CHUCK KNOBLAUCH (#11) – Left Field (2002)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 401.01
517th Royals Player in Franchise History
Chuck Knoblauch signed as a free agent in 2001 after playing for the Minnesota Twins. He was named the leadoff batter on the 2002 opening day for the Royals. Knoblauch season start was like a bang. He hit a grand slam on April 9, 2002 off of Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox. However, from there, things began to go down fast. On June 1, his batting average was only .179. Knoblauch suffered from a condition many players call “the yips,” in which he began to lose control of fielding the ball or throwing. His fielding deteriorated, which caused him to struggle at the plate. The Royals chose not to re-sign Knoblauch and he retired from baseball. He ended his Royals season with a .210 batting average.
RANK #286 – KILA KA’AIHUE (#25) – First Base (2008-2011)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 406.55
681st Royals Player in Franchise History
Kila Ka’aihue was the first native Hawaiian in Royals history. He was drafted by the Royals in 2002. He made his major league debut with the Royals on September 4, 2008 against the Oakland Athletics. He was only called up for 12 games in 2008 and played the entire 2009 season at AAA Omaha. In 2010, he returned to the major leagues for part of the season. He showed power by hitting eight home runs, but only had a .217 batting average. His best game came September 28, 2010 in a 10-1 victory against the Minnesota Twins. He went 3-3 with one walk, two home runs, four runs and four RBIs. In 2011, the Royals planned on starting rookie Eric Hosmer at first base, but due to an injury, the Royals promoted Ka’aihue to the position on opening day. However, Ka’aihue only hit .195 batting average and he was demoted to AAA Omaha. At the end of the season, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for a minor league player. Ka’aihue hit a career .216 batting average with the Royals with 11 home runs in 87 games played.
RANK #285 – LEO NUNEZ (#46) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2005-2008)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 407.80
605th Royals Player in Franchise History
Leo Nunez’s real name is Juan Carlos Oviedo. From the Dominican Republic, Oviedo lied about his age and assumed the name of his friend “Leo Nunez” in order to receive a more lucrative contract. He initially was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2000, but was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2004 in exchange for Benito Santiago. Nunez made his major league debut on May 9, 2005 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Nunez struggled out of the bullpen with a 7.55 ERA in his first season. He spent much of the 2006 and 2007 seasons in AA Wichita and AAA Omaha. In 2008, Nunez received more playing time in Kansas City with a record of 4-1 and a 2.98 ERA. After the 2008 season, he was traded to the Florida Marlins for Mike Jacobs. Nunez went 9-7 with a 4.92 ERA in 106 appearances with the Royals over four seasons.
RANK #284 – BLAKE WOOD (#38) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2010-2011)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 407.85
710th Royals Player in Franchise History
Blake Wood was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2006. He made his major league debut as a relief pitcher on May 12, 2010. Wood pitched brilliantly in his first month with an ERA of 1.54. But after that, his performance dropped and his ERA ended with a 5.07 on the season. His second season was much improved. He pitched 3.75 for the season in 69 ⅔ innings and a 5-3 record as a reliever. He even had a rare relief-pitcher at bat on July 3, 2011 against the Colorado Rockies. Wood was released at the end of the season and picked up off waivers by the Cleveland Indians. He had a career 4.30 ERA in 106 relief appearances for the Royals. Today, Wood is pitching for the Cincinnati Reds.
RANK #283 – GLENDON RUSCH (#53) – Starting Pitcher (1997-1999)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 411.009
413th Royals Player in Franchise History
Glendon Rusch was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1993. He made his major league debut on April 6, 1997, when he pitched eight scoreless innings against the Minnesota Twins and he earned his first win. His success was short lived as his ERA rose. He started in 27 games with a 5.50 ERA during the 1997 season. His 1998 season did not fare any better as Rusch’s record dropped to 6-15. He spent nearly the entire 1999 season at AAA Omaha, only being called up for three relief appearances. He was traded in September to the New York Mets for pitcher Dan Murray. He finished with a 12-25 record in 329 innings pitched with the Royals.
RANK #282 – CHUCK HARRISON (#7) – First Base (1969-1971)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 411.101
1st Royals Player in Franchise History (along with Jerry Adair, Wally Bunker, Joe Foy, Jackie Hernandez, Ed Kirkpatrick, Bob Oliver, Lou Piniella, and Ellie Rodriguez)
Chuck Harrison was the first Royals player to play at first base. His contract was purchased from the Atlanta Braves in 1968. Despite being on the opening day roster for the first-ever Royals game, Harrison was relegated to backup first baseman and pinch hitter for much of the 1969 season. In 1970, Harrison spent his entire season playing in the minors before being called up again in 1971. Harrison hit a Royals career .219 in 124 games. His best game came on July 28, 1971 when he went 3-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Harrison ended his major league career with the Kansas City Royals.
RANK #281 – LEON ROBERTS (#16) – Utility Outfield (1983-1984)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 413.94
193rd Royals Player in Franchise History
Leon Roberts was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Kansas City Royals for minor league player Cecil Fielder. Roberts played as a backup outfielder for the 1983 season with 84 appearances. He hit .258 with eight home runs in his first season in Kansas City. Roberts had a very slow start with the Royals, but by mid-July he became a hot bat for the Royals. By 1984, Roberts’ offensive production dropped to only a .222 batting average. He was asked to pitch for the Royals on July 3, 1984. Roberts gave up three runs and made one strikeout in an inning pitched. Roberts was released at the end of the season, finishing his major league career.
RANK #280 – CHRIS YOUNG (#32) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2015-2016)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 414.20
804th Royals Player in Franchise History
Veteran Chris Young signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2015 after being the American League Comeback-Player-of-the-Year for the Seattle Mariners. At 6’10”, he is tied with Andy Sisco as the tallest Royals player in history and tied for the second tallest-player in major league history. Due to his height, Young has a higher vantage point when throwing the ball that allows for an easier time hitting the strike zone. His fastball only averages in the mid-80s and his style induces numerous fly balls. Young attended Princeton University and was coached by former major league catcher Scott Bradley, who caught for 6’10” Randy Johnson. Young was brought in as a long-relief pitcher, but with the season-ending injury to Jason Vargas, Young was placed into the starting rotation. He quickly became the best pitcher in the Royals rotation. During May and June, Young went 6-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 60 innings pitched. He quickly became one of the starting pitchers in major league baseball. On June 16, Young pitched seven scoreless innings in Milwaukee and became the first pitcher in 43 years to post three RBIs in a game. In July, his ERA shot up and he was returned to the bullpen. He started the last two games of the regular season before going into the postseason as the Royals’ fourth starter in the four-man rotation. During the first game of the World Series, Young was brought in during the 12th inning in long relief against the New York Mets. He pitched three shutout innings, earning the win in the longest game in World Series history. Young’s efforts during the season and postseason helped the Royals clinch their second-ever World Series Title in Franchise history. He ended the season 11-6 with a 3.06 ERA. Chris Young is still pitching with the Royals today.
RANK #279 – CHAD KREUTER (#19) – Catcher (1999)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 414.31
455th Royals Player in Franchise History (along with Rey Sanchez)
Chad Kreuter signed in 1998 with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent after playing for the Anaheim Angels. He was named the opening day catcher in 1999. Kreuter had mediocre hitting in his one season with the Royals, only hitting .225 with five home runs in 85 starts as catcher. His best game came May 19, 1999 against the Oakland Athletics. He hit 4-4 with a double and five RBIs. Kreuter was not re-signed and was picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played a total of 107 games for the Royals and logged 767 1/3 innings as catcher.
RANK #278 – HUBIE BROOKS (#30) – Utility Outfield (1993-1994)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 415.74
349th Royals Player in Franchise History (along with Rey Sanchez)
Veteran Hubie Brooks signed as a free agent in 1993 after playing for the California Angels. He spent many years with the Montreal Expos as was a two-time all star outfielder. He made 109 appearances with the Royals over two seasons with a .274 batting average He was used half of his games in 1993 as a pinch hitter, batting .303 in that situation. In 1994, he was used almost exclusively as a pinch hitter, but batting under .220 for most of the first half of the season. However, on June 13, 1994, Brooks hit a grand slam against the California Angels. He was released in mid-July of 1994 to make room for Wally Joyner’s return from the disabled list. This ended his major league career.
RANK #277 – RAMON RAMIREZ (#56) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2008)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 417.44
667th Royals Player in Franchise History
Ramon Ramirez was traded to the Kansas City Royals by the Colorado Rockies for starting pitcher Jorge de la Rosa. Ramirez instantly became a major part of the Royals’ bullpen, making 71 appearances in 2008. His season was up and down. He began the season with a 0.69 ERA in his first 13 games. Then he had 6.08 ERA in his next 13 games, recovering with a 2.08 ERA for the final part of the season. Ramirez, along with middle relief pitcher Ron Mahay, became very effective setup men for closer Joakim Soria. Ramirez had 19 holds in the season with an overall ERA of 2.64 and 70 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings. Ramirez was traded to the Boston Red Sox at the end of the season for outfielder Coco Crisp.
RANK #276 – SHANE HALTER (#4) – Utility Player (1997-1998)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 422.59
414th Royals Player in Franchise History
Shane Halter was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1991. His major league debut with the Royals was on April 6, 1997 against the Minnesota Twins. Halter was a very versatile player who could play any position. In his rookie year, he played six different positions including designated hitter. He was also used as a pinch runner numerous times throughout the season. He made 74 appearances with a .276 batting average. In 1998, he appeared in 86 games. His best game was on April 11, 1998 when he started at shortstop, batting 2-4 with a double and two RBIs in a losing effort to the Minnesota Twins. On July 17, Halter pitched one inning against the Seattle Mariners. Halter was traded to the New York Mets in March of 1999 for a minor league player. In his career, Halter played every position for the Royals except catcher.
RANK #275 – CURT WILKERSON (#26) – Utility Infield (1992-1993)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 422.74
325th Royals Player in Franchise History
Curt Wilkerson signed as a free-agent in 1992 after playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played as a backup second baseman and shortstop for 111 games in 1992. Wilkerson finished the 1992 season with 18 stolen bases and a .250 batting average. His best series as a Kansas City Royal was at home against Oakland between July 31 and August 2 of 1992. In that series, he went 8-11 with three runs, two RBIs and a stolen base. He only played for two months in 1993 before being demoted to AAA Omaha. With this demotion, Wilkerson ended his major league career.
RANK #274 – A.J. HINCH (#7) – Catcher (2001-2002)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 422.84
503rd Royals Player in Franchise History
In 2001, A.J. Hinch arrived in Kansas City in a complex three-team trade. Hinch and Angel Berroa were sent to Kansas City from the Oakland Athletics. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays sent Roberto Hernandez to Kansas City and Cory Lidle to Oakland. Oakland sent Ben Grieve to Tampa Bay and Kansas City sent Johnny Damon and Mark Ellis to Oakland. Hinch split his first season between Kansas City and AAA Omaha. While with the Royals, split time as the team’s catcher with Brent Mayne, Hector Ortiz and Gregg Zaun. His batting average of .157 was the lowest of four-catcher rotation of the Royals. However, he played his best game in his second-ever game with the Royals on April 8, 2001 when he went 1-4 with a home run and three RBIs in a 15-4 blowout of the Minnesota Twins. In Hinch’s second season with the Royals, he became the primary backup catcher to Brent Mayne, logging 527 1/3 innings on the backstop. His batting average improved to .249 and he produced seven home runs in 49 hits. Hinch was released by the Royals at the end of the 2002 season and he signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians. Today, Hinch is the manager of the Houston Astros.
RANK #273 – HARMON KILLEBREW (#3) – Designated Hitter (1975)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 423.72
97th Royals Player in Franchise History
In 1975, the Kansas City Royals signed Harmon Killebrew to a one-year contract after being released by the Minnesota Twins. He became the first truly full-time designated hitter in Royals history and appeared as the opening day DH for 1975. Killebrew played as a designated hitter in 92 games that season, but only had a .199 batting average and 14 home runs. On May 4, 1975, the Kansas City Royals played their last game in a three-game series in Minnesota. At that game, the Twins retired his jersey. During that game, Killebrew went 2-3 with a walk, a homerun and two RBIs. Killebrew received a standing ovation. Killebrew retired after the 1975 season a was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.
RANK #272 – LINDY MCDANIEL (#41) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1974-1975)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 430.38
89th Royals Player in Franchise History
Veteran pitcher Lindy McDaniel was traded to the Kansas City Royals from the New York Yankees in 1973 for Lou Piniella and Ken Wright. He was primarily a middle relief pitcher in the 1974 season with five spot-starts in late June and early July. He had a 3.46 ERA for the season with a 1-4 record in 106 2/3 innings pitched. In the first of his rare starts for the Royals, McDaniel pitched a complete game 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics. McDaniel had four strikeouts and only one earned run in nine innings pitched. McDaniel pitched again in 1975 with a 4.15 ERA in 78 innings pitched. He retired from baseball with the Kansas City Royals after pitching in the major leagues since 1955.
RANK #271 – RYAN MADSON (#46) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2015)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 432.36
801st Royals Player in Franchise History
Known as “Mad Dog,” Veteran pitcher Ryan Madson signed a one-year contract with Kansas City in 2015. Madson had not pitched in a major league game since September 28, 2011 due to season-ending Tommy John surgery during Spring Training with the Cincinnati Reds in 2012. In 2012, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels, but was still unable to play. He made the 25-man roster for the Royals in 2015 and became one of the most reliable relief pitchers on the best bullpen in major league baseball. Madson had a 2.02 ERA by the All-Star break and became one of the primary setup pitchers in the Royals bullpen. By the end of the season, he had a 3-1 record, 20 holds, and helped the Royals into the postseason for the second straight year. During the playoffs, he had six rough outings, giving up five earned runs in 5 ⅓ innings pitched and a blown save. In the World Series, Madson shined, pitching three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and a win. Madson helped the Royals win their second-ever World Series. At the end of the season, Madson signed with the Oakland Athletics as a free agent.
RANK #270 – TIM SPEHR (#12) – Catcher (1991, 1997, 1998-1999)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 433.69
311th Royals Player in Franchise History
Tim Spehr was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1988. A native of Excelsior Springs, MO, Spehr made his major league debut on July 18, 1991 in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. He was called up due to an injury to starting catcher Mike Macfarlane. In his first season, he batted .189 with three home runs in 74 at bats. On September 29, 1991, Tim Spehr hit a grand slam off of Jim Abbot of the California Angels. Spehr was not called up from the minors in the 1992 season and then was involved in a trade with the Montreal Expos that brought Mark Gardner to Kansas City. Spehr played the next four seasons as a backup catcher in Montreal before being traded to the Boston Red Sox. Weeks later, Boston sold his contract to the Royals. Now in his second stint with the Royals, Spehr made 17 appearances in 1997 as catcher, including catching on opening day. Having only a .171 batting average, the Royals released Spehr in May of 1997. Spehr was picked up by the Atlanta Braves for the remainder of the 1997 season. The next year, Spehr signed with the New York Mets and played a limited time for their team. In August, his contract was sold to the Kansas City Royals again. This third stint with the Royals was his best. Spehr was the primary backup catcher to Chad Kreuter, hitting nine home runs and driving in 26. The 1999 season would be his last in the major leagues.
RANK #269 – HECTOR ORTIZ (#22) – Catcher (1998-2001)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 435.68
454th Royals Player in Franchise History
Hector Ortiz signed with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent from the Chicago Cubs. He made his major league debut on September 14, 1998 against the Oakland Athletics. He only made four appearances in 1998 and played in the minor leagues until he was called up in late July of 2000 as a backup catcher, replacing Jorge Fabregas. Due to an injury to starting catcher Gregg Zaun, he was the opening day catcher for the Royals in 2001. He was the starting catcher for the Royals until Kansas City acquired Brent Mayne that season. His best game came May 19, 2001 in a 6-2 win over the Boston Red Sox when he hit 3-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Ortiz did not make the major league roster in 2002 and in late April, his contract was sold to the Texas Rangers. Ortiz hit .293 while playing for the Royals.
RANK #268 – CARL TAYLOR (#44) – Catcher (1971, 1972-1973)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 435.69
53rd Royals Player in Franchise History
Carl Taylor was traded to the Royals in 1971 by the Milwaukee Brewers for Ellie Rodriguez. In September, his contract was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates re-sold his contract back to the Royals in early 1972. He was a backup catcher who occasionally played outfield or pinch hit. He hit .236 for the Royals in 152 appearances. He never played in the major leagues again after 1973.
RANK #267 – JERRY MAY (#12) – Catcher (1971-1973)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 437.53
55th Royals Player in Franchise History
Jerry May was traded to the Kansas City Royals, along with Freddie Patek and Bruce Dal Canton, from the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Bob Johnson, shortstop Jackie Hernandez and catcher Jim Campanis. May split time with Ed Kirkpatrick behind the plate. He hit .252 in 71 games played in his first season with the Royals. His best game came April 24, 1971 in a 6-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians when he went 2-4 with a double and three RBIs. In 1972, he became the backup catcher to Ed Kirkpatrick, but his batting average dropped to .190. During both seasons, May battled injuries throughout the season. In 1973, after having a very bad start to the season, his contract was sold to the New York Yankees. He hit a career .223 and caught 576 2/3 innings with the Kansas City Royals.
RANK #266 – PHIL HIATT (#25) – Utility Player (1993-1995)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 444.68
345th Royals Player in Franchise History
Phil Hiatt was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1990 and made his major league debut on April 7, 1993. He primarily played third base in his first season, splitting time with Gary Gaetti. He played 558 1/3 innings at third base, but only hit .218 for the season. The best game of his Royals career came on June 9, 1993 when he went 3-5 with a double, home run and five RBIs. Unfortunately, he did not get called up in 1994 and spent most of his time at AA Memphis. He was able to return to the Royals in 1995 as a utility outfielder, but only hit .204 with limited playing time. He was ultimately traded to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Juan Samuel.
RANK #265 – STEVE BRAUN (#3) – Left Field (1978-1980)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 445.38
128th Royals Player in Franchise History
Steve Braun was traded to the Kansas City Royals from the Seattle Mariners for Jim Colborn on June 1, 1978. He began by playing various positions such as left field, third base and pinch hitter. Braun hit .263 in 1978 and also made two appearances in the 1978 ALCS against the New York Yankees. Due to some injuries, Braun only appeared in 58 games in 1979, batting .267. Braun was released in early June of 1980 by the Royals and was picked up by the Toronto Blue Jays. He hit a career .246 for the Kansas City Royals.
RANK #264 – MIKE JONES (#17) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1980-1985)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 446.83
157th Royals Player in Franchise History
Mike Jones played his entire major league career with the Kansas City Royals. He was a first round draft pick in 1977. Jones had brief stints with the Royals in 1980 and 1981. When the Royals made the divisional series of 1981, Jones was awarded the start in Game 2 against the Oakland Athletics. He pitched eight innings in a tough 2-1 loss. In December of 1981, Jones suffered a broken neck in a car accident. He would not pitch again in the major leagues until June of 1984. During the 1985 season, Jones was primarily a middle relief pitcher, appearing in 33 games with a 3-3 record. Jones ended his major league career with the Royals in 1985 with an 11-10 record in 71 appearances, pitching 225 1/3 innings.
RANK #263 – CESAR GERONIMO (#23) – Utility Outfield (1981-1983)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 448.83
159th Royals Player in Franchise History
Veteran Cesar Geronimo was signed as a free agent in 1981 after playing for the Cincinnati Reds. In his first season, he primarily played right field as a backup outfielder, batting .246. He made a brief appearance as a pinch runner for Willie Aikens in Game 2 of the 1981 Division Series against the Oakland Athletics. He would have the same role as backup outfielder in the 1982 season, however by 1983, his offensive production fell dramatically and he was released at the end of the season, ending his major league career. He finished his Royals career with a .244 batting average in 324 at bats.
RANK #262 – MENDY LOPEZ (#32) – Shortstop (1998-1999, 2003-2004)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 452.81
441st Royals Player in Franchise History
Mendy Lopez was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 1992. He made his major league debut on June 3, 1998. Lopez primarily played shortstop in his first season with the Royals after the demotion of Felix Martinez. However, in 1999, the Royals acquired Rey Sanchez at shortstop and Lopez spent much of his season at AAA Omaha. He was released by the Royals at the end of the season and was picked up by the Florida Marlins. After short stints with Florida, Houston and Pittsburgh, he re-signed with the Royals as a utility infielder in 2003. His best game came on September 27, 2003 when, replacing Angel Berroa at shortstop, he went 2-2 with a homerun and two RBIs. On May 21, 2003, Lopez stole home plate against the Oakland Athletics. Lopez ended his major league career in 2004 when the Royals sold his contract to Samsung Lions in the Korean League. He played a total of 562 2/3 innings at shortstop while in Kansas City.
RANK #261 – MIKE WOOD (#46) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2004-2006)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 454.17
585th Royals Player in Franchise History
In June of 2004, Mike Wood arrived in Kansas City through a complex three-team deal. Mike Wood was sent to the Kansas City Royals, along with Mark Teahen, from the Oakland Athletics. Kansas City sent Carlos Beltran to the Houston Astros, Houston sent Octavio Dotel to Oakland, and Houston sent John Buck to Kansas City with cash. Wood was instantly inserted into the starting rotation and started 17 games for the Royals in 2004. Unfortunately, he only went 3-8 with a 5.94 ERA. In 2005, Wood was moved to the bullpen in long relief and improved his ERA to 4.03 before given a second opportunity as a starter late in the season due to an injury to starter Brian Anderson. In his final season with the Royals, Wood split time in the bullpen and in a starting roll. Wood was released at the end of the 2006 season and picked up off waivers by the Texas Rangers. Wood had a career 5.28 ERA with the Royals and a record of 11-19 in 279 2/3 innings pitcher.
RANK #260 – STORM DAVIS (#43) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1990-1991)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 454.90
282nd Royals Player in Franchise History
Gerald Earl “Storm” Davis signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Royals in 1989 after playing with the Oakland Athletics. He signed a $6 million three-year contract with the Royals. Many have said the contract was one of the worst blunders in major league history. Davis became part of the starting rotation in 1990, starting in 20 games with a 7-10 record. In 1991, he was changed to a middle relief role, making 51 appearances but only a 3-9 record. He was traded at the end of the 1991 season to the Baltimore Orioles for catcher Bob Melvin. He finished his short and expensive career with the Royals with a 10-19 record, a 4.85 ERA, and 226 1/3 innings pitched in 72 appearances.
RANK #259 – AMBIORIX BURGOS (#50) – Closing Pitcher (2005-2006)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 459.56
604th Royals Player in Franchise History
Ambiorix Burgos was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2000. He made his major league debut on April 23, 2005. He pitched in 63 ⅓ innings in 59 appearances and had the fastest average pitch in baseball at 96.5 mph. Despite only pitching in relief, Burgos was tenth in the league in wild pitches. In 2006, Burgos was made the team’s closer and led the team with 18 saves, but blew 12 save opportunities. He was replaced by Joe Nelson by the end of the season. After the season, Burgos was traded to the New York Mets for starting pitcher Brian Bannister. He ended his career with a 4.81 ERA in 127 appearances for the Royals.
RANK #258 – JERRY ADAIR (#14) – Second Base (1969-1970)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 460.01
1st Royals Player in Franchise History (along with Wally Bunker, Joe Foy, Chuck Harrison, Jackie Hernandez, Ed Kirkpatrick, Bob Oliver, Lou Piniella, and Ellie Rodriguez)
Adair was selected from the Boston Red Sox in the 1968 Expansion Draft. He became the first second baseman in Royals history in the 1969 opening day game against the Minnesota Twins. Adair became the primary second-baseman for the Royals in their inaugural year. Adair hit .244 in his Royals career with five home runs and 49 RBIs. He ranked second in the American League in fielding percentage as a second baseman. On April 21, 1969, Adair hit the first-ever inside-the-park home run in Royals history off of pitcher Marty Pattin of the Seattle Pilots. His best game came on September 26, 1969 when he went 3-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs against the Chicago White Sox. Adair finished his major league career with the Kansas City Royals when he was abruptly released in 1970. He would go on to play in Japan for a short time.
RANK #257 – LUIS MENDOZA (#39) – Starting Pitcher (2010-2013)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 460.27
707th Royals Player in Franchise History
The Kansas City Royals purchased the contract of Luis Mendoza from the Texas Rangers in 2010. Mendoza made only six appearances between 2010 and 2011. In 2012, Mendoza became part of the Kansas City starting rotation, starting 25 games in 30 appearances. He had a 8-10 record with a 4.23 ERA. In the 2013 season, his performance began to go down as his ERA rose to 5.36. He was removed from the starting rotation in early July and used primarily in long relief from the bullpen. Mendoza was released after the season and signed to play in Japan. Mendoza pitched 278 2/3 innings while in Kansas City.
RANK #256 – BILL BUCKNER (#14) – Designated Hitter (1988-1989)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 461.23
257th Royals Player in Franchise History
Veteran outfielder Bill Buckner signed with the Royals in May of 1988 after being released by the California Angels. Buckner was a former all-star and National League Batting Title winner with the Chicago Cubs. Buckner was also was known as the Boston Red Sox player that let a ground ball go through his legs in the 1986 World Series that allowed the New York Mets to force a seventh game and win the World Series. Buckner primarily split time as a designated hitter along with George Brett and Pat Tabler. He played several games at first base as well as a pinch hitter. Buckner hit .256 with only three home runs and 34 RBIs on the season. His best game with the Royals was on May 19, 1988 in a 14-1 win over the Minnesota Twins where he hit two solo home runs and went 3-4 batting. Buckner’s numbers dramatically dropped in 1989 and he only appeared in 79 games, most of which was as a pinch hitter. Buckner was released after the season and he was re-signed by the Boston Red Sox. Buckner hit .239 for the Kansas City Royals in 168 appearances.
RANK #255 – BEN ZOBRIST (#18) – Utility Player (2015)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 469.48
813th Royals Player in Franchise History
In late July of 2015, just before the trade deadline, the Kansas City Royals traded Aaron Brooks and a minor league player to the Oakland Athletics for Ben Zobrist. Despite having one of the best fielding percentages in major league history at second base, Zobrist was brought to Kansas City to replace the injured Alex Gordon in left field. Zobrist has been called the “Super Utility Player” because of his extreme versatility. He could play every position with ease. He has even been known to pitch. In only his third game with Kansas City, Zobrist became the sixth player in franchise history to hit two home runs in a game from both sides of the plate against the Toronto Blue Jays. While with the Royals, Zobrist played five positions. However, when Gordon returned to the team, second baseman Omar Infante had a season-ending injury. Zobrist was placed as second base. He hit .284 in Kansas City with 29 walks to 30 strikeouts. He hit seven home runs in his short tenure with Kansas City. When the Royals made the postseason, Zobrist was named the starting second baseman for Kansas City. He went on a tear, hitting .303 with two home runs, making spectacular catches in the infield, and tying a major league record with eight doubles in the postseason. There was some concern that he would leave the team during the series because his wife was due with their third child. However, to the delight of many fans, his wife told the media that she wanted him to keep playing even if she went into labor. Thankfully, the birth happened after the World Series. Zobrist became a major key to the Royals winning the World Series in 2015. At the end of the season, he declared himself a free agent and is currently playing with the Chicago Cubs.
RANK #254 – DANE IORG (#9) – Utility Player (1984-1985)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 471.84
209th Royals Player in Franchise History
Dane Iorg’s contract with the St. Louis Cardinal’s was sold to the Kansas City Royals in May of 1984. Iorg became a utility player for the Royals by playing first base, outfield and designated hitter. Iorg made 15 appearances in 1984 as a pinch hitter in 78 games played. Iorg hit .255 with five home runs and 30 RBIs in his first season. In 1985, Iorg made 30 appearances as a pinch hitter out of 64 games played in the regular season. He occasionally played outfield positions during the season. Iorg made appearances in both the 1984 and 1985 ALCS. His most memorable game came during Game 6 of the 1985 World Series. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and down by one run, Iorg hit a bloop single to right field which scored Onix Concepcion and Jim Sundberg to win the game and force a Game 7 of the World Series. Dane Iorg became a hero in Kansas City in 1985. He was granted free agency after the World Series and he signed with the San Diego Padres. Iorg hit .244 in his Royals career.
RANK #253 – KURT BEVACQUA (#2) – Third Base (1973, 1974)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 471.90
74th Royals Player in Franchise History
Kurt Bevacqua was traded to Kansas City by the Cleveland Indians in 1972 for Mike Hedlund. In 1973, he played in 99 games with the Royals, backing up Paul Schaal at third base. He hit a career-high 40 RBIs in his first season with the Royals. On July 9, 1973, Bevacqua hit a grand slam against the Milwaukee Brewers. At the end of the season, Bevacqua was traded to the Pittsburgh. After a half-season in Pittsburgh, he was traded back to the Royals in July of 1974. He had limited playing time in his second stint with the Royals and only hit .211 in 39 games. His contract was sold to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975. Bevacqua hit .246 with 43 RBIs while with the Royals.
RANK #252 – RON MAHAY (#32) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2008-2009)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 473.81
670th Royals Player in Franchise History
Ron Mahay signed as a free agent in 2007 after playing for the Texas Rangers. He was a major part of the bullpen, pitching in 57 relief appearances with an ERA of 3.48. As a setup pitcher in 2008 for Joakim Soria, Mahay had 20 holds in his first season with the Royals, striking out 49. His productivity diminished in 2009 when his ERA shot up to 4.79 with only three holds. He was released by the Royals in late August and picked up by the Minnesota Twins. Mahay had a career 3.99 ERA with the Royals in 98 relief appearances.
RANK #251 – ALEX RIOS (#15) – Right Field (2015)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 477.55
799th Royals Player in Franchise History
Veteran outfielder and former all-star Alex Rios was signed as a free agent in 2015 after playing for the Texas Rangers. Rios was brought to Kansas City to fill the vacancy left after the release of Nori Aoki in right field. It was hoped that Rios would bring more power to the anemic Royals offense of 2014. On Opening Day, Rios did not disappoint when he hit a homerun to help the Royals win 10-1. He was hitting .321 for the Royals until a pitch broke his hand on April 13 and he was forced on the disabled list for the rest of April and all of May. When he returned to the lineup, he went into a major slump, only hitting .181 during the month of June. He bounced back, hitting .274 with three home runs after July 1. He lacked the fielding prowess of backup outfielder Paulo Orlando and would periodically leave the game in the seventh inning for the defensive replacement. Rios was selected to be the Royals’ starting right fielder during the 2015 playoffs. His 1,691 career games without playing in the playoffs was the longest of any player in the major leagues at the time. He hit .333 with one home runs and five RBIs during the playoffs to help the Royals to their second-ever World Series. At the end of the season, Rios became a free agent. Rios hit .255 for the Royals.
RANK #250 – NELSON BRILES (#19) – Starting Pitcher (1974-1975)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 479.84
93rd Royals Player in Franchise History
In 1973, Nelson Briles was traded, along with Fernando Gonzalez, to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Ed Kirkpatrick, Kurt Bevacqua and a minor league player. Briles studied drama in college, sang and was a comedian. Just after arriving in Kansas City, Briles released a song on Capitol Records titled, “Hey Hank,” asking Hank Aaron not to hit home run #715 off of him. Two games into the 1974 season, Briles was on the disabled list for a strained knee. After returning, he strained it again and was required to have surgery on it after the season. The 1975 season did not fare much better for Briles as he was placed on the disabled list several times. After the 1975 season, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Dave Nelson. He finished his Royals career with a 4.14 ERA, 114 strikeout in 42 appearances. His record with the Royals was 11-13 in 215 innings pitched.
RANK #249 – JERRY DON GLEATON (#39) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1987-1989)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 481.09
243rd Royals Player in Franchise History
Jerry Don Gleaton (one of the few players in major league history to use all three names regularly), signed as a free agent in 1986 after playing for the Chicago White Sox. He became a regular left-hander in the bullpen, pitching 50 2/3 innings in his first season in 48 appearances. His best game came against the Texas Rangers on May 24, 1987 when he earned the win pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, striking three and allowing only one hit. His ERA dropped to 3.55 in 1988 in 42 relief appearances. However, by 1989, Gleaton had an 8.22 ERA by the end of May and he was sent down to AAA Omaha. He returned in late August and brought his ERA down to 5.65. He would be traded by the Royals to the Detroit Tigers in 1990 for a minor league player. He finished his Royals career with a 4.19 ERA in 105 relief appearances.
RANK #248 – TODD BENZINGER (#38) – First Base (1991)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 486.16
310th Royals Player in Franchise History
Todd Benzinger was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Carmelo Martinez in July of 1991. The Royals had been platooning Warren Cromartie and Carmelo Martinez at first base, but after the trade, Benzinger became the full-time player at the position. Benzinger hit .294 for the season and hit two home runs. One of the home runs was a grand slam on July 23, 1991 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a much more effective first baseman defensively than Cromartie or Martinez by only committing three errors in 649 ⅓ innings played. At the end of the season, however, Benzinger was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Chris Gwynn.
RANK #247 – JOEL PERALTA (#57) – Middle Relief Pitcher (2006-2007)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 488.54
625th Royals Player in Franchise History
Joel Peralta was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals in 2005 after being released by the Anaheim Angels. He became a major part of the bullpen in 2006, making 64 appearances in relief and striking out 57. He made 62 appearances in 2007 with an improved 3.80 ERA. However, in 2008, Peralta began to struggle. His workload was more limited and he finished his last season with the Royals with a 5.98 ERA. He was released by the Royals after a bad spring training in 2009 and he was picked up by the Colorado Rockies. Peralta had a 3-8 record in 214 innings pitched and a career 4.54 ERA.
RANK #246 – RUDY LAW (#7) – Utility Outfield (1986)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 490.59
223rd Royals Player in Franchise History
Rudy Law signed with the Kansas City Royals after being released by the Chicago White Sox. Law played as a backup outfielder, switching from right to left field. He hit .261 for the season, but only had 36 RBIs in 307 at bats. Law’s best game came against his former team on May 24, 1986 when he went 3-5 with a home run and three RBIs as the Royals beat the White Sox 7-6. Rudy Law was released at the end of the season by the Royals due to the up and coming Bo Jackson’s success. Law ended his major league career with the Royals after playing in 87 games.
RANK #245 – JOSE SANTIAGO (#46) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1997-2001)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 493.31
421st Royals Player in Franchise History
Jose Santiago was drafted by the Royals in 1992. He made his major league debut on June 7, 1997. That season, Santiago only made four appearances. His breakout year would be 1999 when Santiago pitched 34 games in relief and sporting a 3.42 ERA. Although he bounced back and forth from Kansas City to the minors, Santiago pitched in 105 games with a 13-12 record while in Kansas City. In June of 2001, Santiago was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for starting pitcher Paul Byrd.
RANK #244 – VIDA BLUE (#33) – Starting Pitcher (1982-1983)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 493.58
175th Royals Player in Franchise History
Former American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner Vida Blue was traded by the San Francisco Giants, along with Bob Tufts, to the Kansas City Royals for Renie Martin, Atlee Hammaker, Craig Chamberlain and Brad Wellman. Blue was inserted into the starting rotation of Larry Gura, Paul Splittorff and Dennis Leonard. Blue stated in 31 games in his first season, with a record of 13-12 and an ERA of 3.78. He led the team with 103 strikeouts in 1982. One of his best performances was on June 1, 1982 when he pitched only five innings against the Chicago White Sox, but had nine strikeouts. Problems plagued Blue in 1983 when his production dropped. He plead guilty, along with Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens and Jerry Martin, for attempting to purchase cocaine. After the guilty plea, Blue was released and did not play baseball again until 1985 for San Francisco. Vida Blue was 13-17 with a 4.49 ERA as a Kansas City Royals pitcher in 50 appearances.
RANK #243 – ANGEL SALAZAR (#2) – Shortstop (1986-1987)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 496.39
222nd Royals Player in Franchise History
In 1986, Angel Salazar was traded to the Kansas City Royals from the New York Mets for Tony Ferreira. Salazar had not played in the major leagues since 1984 when he played for the Montreal Expos. Despite his history as a poor hitter, Salazar was made the opening day shortstop for the Royals due to the departure of Onix Concepcion the previous year. In his first season with the Royals, Salazar had the best performance of his career with a .245 batting average. By the end of the season, however, Salazar began sharing time at shortstop with Buddy Biancalana. His best game was on September 7, 1986 when he went 2-3 with a double and three RBIs. By 1987, it was clear that Salazar was not meeting up to expectations, hitting only .205 on the season. By August, Salazar was replaced by rookie Ross Jones at shortstop. The Royals decided to trade Salazar to the Cincinnati Reds, along with pitcher Danny Jackson in exchange for shortstop Kurt Stillwell and pitcher Ted Power. Salazar only hit .224 for the Royals, yet logged 1,658 2/3 innings at shortstop.
RANK #242 – JOE ZDEB (#19) – Left Field (1977-1979)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 496.46
115th Royals Player in Franchise History
Joe Zdeb played his entire career for the Kansas City Royals. He was selected in the fourth round of the free-agent draft in 1971. After Jim Wohlford was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, Zdeb was called up to become the opening-day left fielder for the Royals in 1977. Zdeb platooned the position with Tom Poquette that year. He eventually became a utility outfielder before he was sent to the minors after the rise of Willie Wilson. In 1980, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. His best game was on July 1, 1977 when Zdeb went 5-5 against the Cleveland Indians. In that game, Zdeb had two doubles, a homerun and four RBIs as the Royals routed Cleveland 12-2. He played in a total of 180 games with Kansas City.
RANK #241 – ERVIN SANTANA (#54) – Starting Pitcher (2013)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 497.37
762nd Royals Player in Franchise History
Ervin Santana was traded by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to the Kansas City Royals, with cash, for a minor league player. Santana became part of a one-two punch in the starting rotation along with recently acquired James Shields. Unfortunately for Santana, he had the worst run support of any starting pitcher in the American League. He had a 9-10 record with the Royals with a 3.24 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 211 innings pitched. He was the winning pitcher in the home opener for the Royals, pitching eight innings and giving up only one earned run. He did not re-sign with the Royals and signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2014.
RANK #240 – BILLY BREWER (#41) – Middle Relief Pitcher (1993-1995)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 498.73
347th Royals Player in Franchise History
Billy Brewer was selected in the 1992 Rule 5 Draft from the Montreal Expos. He became a left-handed situational relief pitcher for the Royals over the next three seasons. In 1994, Brewer made 50 appearances in the strike-shortened season and pitched only 38 2/3 innings. His ERA was an impressive 2.56. Unfortunately, his performance dropped in 1995 with an ERA of 5.56 and a 2-4 record. Brewer was then traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jose Offerman in 1995. He had a career 8-7 record with a 3.95 ERA in 144 appearances for the Royals. He also earned 24 career holds as a middle relief pitcher in Kansas City.
RANK #239 – JASON KENDALL (#18) – Catcher (2010)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 498.76
702nd Royals Player in Franchise History (along with Rick Ankiel, Chris Getz, and Scott Podsednik)
Veteran catcher Jason Kendall signed as a free agent in 2010 after playing with the Milwaukee Brewers. Kendall is one of only seven catchers with more than 2,000 hits in their career. He was named the opening day catcher for Kansas City in 2010. Kendall hit .256 during the season in Kansas City with 37 RBIs. He lead the American League in throwing out baserunners attempting to steal with 41 on the season. He logged 1,018 2/3 innings as the Royals primary catcher. His best game came on June 27, 2010 in a 10-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Kendall hit 3-5 with a double and four RBIs. He had season-ending surgery in early September due to a torn rotator cuff. He announced his retirement in 2012.
RANK #238 – BUDDY BIANCALANA (#1) – Shortstop (1982-1987)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 498.93
188th Royals Player in Franchise History
Buddy Biancalana was a first round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals in 1978. He made his major league debut in 1982 and tripled in his second-ever at bat. He was only brought up for six games in 1983 before finally have some quality playing time in 1984. He had an opportunity to play in the 1984 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers. In 1985, Biancalana became a backup to shortstop Onix Concepcion for much of the season. However, at the end of the season, Manager Dick Howser replaced Concepcion with Biancalana as the full-time shortstop. Biancalana became the starting shortstop in every game of the 1985 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. In the off-season, Biancalana made national news when he appeared on the David Letterman Show. Letterman started a “Biancalana-Watch” as a parody to the Pete Rose watch for breaking Ty Cobb’s all-time hit record. In 1986, Biancalana made 100 appearances as a utility infielder to shortstop Angel Salazar and second baseman Frank White. In July of 1987, he was traded to the Houston Astros for pitcher Mel Stottlemyre, Jr. Biancalana hit a career .213 for the Kansas City Royals and is 15th all-time in innings played at shortstop with 1,381 1/3 innings over 293 games.
RANK #237 – JOHNNY GIAVOTELLA (#9) – Second Base (2011-2014)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 498.99
741st Royals Player in Franchise History
Johnny Giavotella was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2008. He made his major league debut on August 5, 2011. Giavotella has a career batting average of .238 with the Royals in 125 appearances with the Royals. Giavotella has an outstanding fielding percentage of .984, but his batting average kept him in the minor leagues for much of his career and only having spot appearances in 2013 and 2014. He had four home runs and 45 RBIs while in Kansas City and logged 951 innings at second base. At the end of the 2014 season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for a minor league pitcher.
RANK #236 – BOB JOHNSON (#30) – Starting Pitcher (1970)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 500.95
41st Royals Player in Franchise History
Bob Johnson was traded to the Royals, along with Amos Otis, from the New York Mets in 1970 for third baseman Joe Foy. His one season with the Royals was a great benefit to the team. He only had an 8-13 record, but he was ranked third in the American League with 206 strikeouts, tenth in the league with a 3.07 ERA, and first in the league in fielding for a pitcher. His best performance came on August 23, 1970, when he pitched a complete game 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox, striking out 12 batters and giving up only two earned runs. At the end of the season, Johnson was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with Jackie Hernandez and Jim Campanis for Freddie Patek, Bruce Dal Canton and Jerry May. He pitched 214 innings for Kansas City that season.
RANK #235 – BOB STINSON (#15) – Catcher (1975-1976)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 507.05
99th Royals Player in Franchise History
Bob Stinson was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 1975 from the Montreal Expos for Rodney Scott. In his first season, he split time as catcher with Buck Martinez and Fran Healy. He hit .265 in 63 games played. In 1976, he became the full-time backup catcher to Buck Martinez hitting a respectable .263. His best game came on May 26, 1976 when he went 3-5 with a homerun and three RBIs as Kansas City defeated the Texas Rangers 14-2. He had two brief appearances in the 1976 ALCS against the New York Yankees. At the end of the 1976 season, Stinson was left unprotected and he was drafted by the newly created Seattle Mariners in the 1976 Expansion Draft. He played 577 2/3 innings as catcher for the Royals.
RANK #234 – SHANE COSTA (#32) – Utility Outfield (2005-2007)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 509.16
99th Royals Player in Franchise History
Shane Costa was drafted by the Royals in 2003. He made his major league debut on June 2, 2005. His best season was 2006 when he went .274 with three home runs. By late 2006, he had been moved to a pinch hitter. He was demoted to AAA Omaha in 2007 and was released from the Royals in 2010. Costa hit .254 with five home runs in 154 appearances with the Royals.
RANK #233 – RUBEN GOTAY (#30) – Second Base (2004-2005)
PERFORMANCE INDEX: 512.94
589th Royals Player in Franchise History
Ruben Gotay was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2000. He made his major league debut on August 3, 2004 as the replacement at second base for the injured Tony Graffanino. He hit a respectable .270 in his first season with the Royals. He was the opening day second baseman in 2005 for the Royals. During his second season, he played along with a five other players at second base. His batting average dropped dramatically to only .227. His best game came on April 10, 2005 in a 8-3 win against the Anaheim Angels when he went 4-5 with home run and three RBIs. Gotay did not mak